Prawns in the Air Fryer
Prawns go from juicy to rubbery in about a minute, which makes a fast, hot cooking method ideal. Air fryer prawns take 6 to 8 minutes, turn pink and curl up when they are ready, and need only a spoonful of oil. This page covers raw, frozen, shell-on and breaded prawns, with garlic and paprika seasoning, and how to tell when they are safe to eat.
- Temperature
- 200°C
- Total time
- 18min
- Prep
- 10min
- Servings
- 2
- Core temp
- 63°C
- Per serving
- 195kcal
Why the air fryer works for prawns
Air fryer prawns are quick and forgiving in the one way that matters: speed. Prawns need only a few minutes of heat, and the air fryer reaches full temperature in moments and surrounds each prawn with hot air. The outside takes on a little colour while the inside stays plump and sweet, and a spoonful of oil is enough to carry the garlic and spices.
Prawns in an air fryer are also much less messy than a frying pan, which spits oil and fills the kitchen with the smell of garlic. Raw prawns, frozen prawns and breaded ones all work, as long as you adjust the time for their size and check that they are pink and opaque. The only way to go wrong is to leave them in for too long.
How to cook prawns in the air fryer
Tap a time to start a timer.
- Dry the prawns Pat the prawns very dry with kitchen roll. If they came frozen, thaw them in a bowl of cold water for or overnight in the fridge, then drain and dry them.
- Season Toss the prawns in a bowl with the oil, garlic, paprika, salt and chilli flakes until each prawn is coated.
- Preheat Preheat the air fryer to 200 °C for .
- Cook Spread the prawns in a single layer in the basket. Cook for , shaking the basket after , until they are pink, opaque and curled into a loose C shape.
- Check and serve Cut open the largest prawn to check it is opaque all the way through, or take its temperature, which should be about 63 °C. Tip into a bowl, add the parsley and squeeze over the lemon.
Cooking times and temperatures
| Prawns | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Raw king prawns, peeledShake halfway | 200 °C | 6–8 min |
| Small raw prawns, peeled | 200 °C | 4–5 min |
| Raw prawns from frozenSeason after 3 minutes | 200 °C | 8–10 min |
| Shell-on raw prawns | 200 °C | 8–10 min |
| Frozen breaded prawnsReady-to-heat, to 75 °C | 190 °C | 8–10 min |
| Reheating cooked prawns | 160 °C | 2–3 min |
Times are a guide and depend on the size of the food and the power of your air fryer. Cooked when the centre reaches 63 °C. See also cooking times and temperatures for all dishes.
Tips
- Choose the right prawns. Raw king prawns, sold peeled or shell-on, give the best texture. Pre-cooked prawns are already done and only need warming through.
- Keep them in a single layer. Piled prawns steam in their own moisture. If you are cooking for four, work in two batches.
- Watch the time closely. The difference between juicy and tough is one minute, so start looking at 5 minutes.
Serving
Toss the prawns with lemon and parsley and serve as a starter or with garlic bread and a salad. They also go well with rice, in tacos or stirred through pasta. Asparagus and broccoli cook in the same basket just after the prawns. For another quick supper, see cod in the air fryer, and for more times see the air fryer cooking times.
Storing and reheating
Eat prawns the same day if you can. Leftovers keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 day. To reheat, put them in the air fryer at 160 °C for 2–3 minutes until steaming hot. They are best added to a hot dish at the end rather than reheated alone, as they toughen quickly. Cooking air fryer prawns from frozen gives the same result as fresh ones, as long as the surface is dry.
Variations
- Garlic butter: Toss the cooked prawns in 1 tbsp melted butter, a crushed garlic clove and lemon juice after they come out (not dairy-free).
- Breaded prawns: Dip in beaten egg and then panko breadcrumbs, spray lightly with oil and cook at 190 °C for 8–10 minutes. This version is not gluten-free.
- Indian-style: Replace the paprika with 1 tsp garam masala and ½ tsp turmeric, and serve with raita (not dairy-free).
Troubleshooting
- The prawns are rubbery
- They have cooked too long. Prawns are done as soon as they are pink and opaque, usually after 6 minutes, and they keep cooking in the heat of the basket. Take them out straight away.
- The prawns are watery and pale
- They were still wet from thawing. Pat them dry and cook in a single layer. A crowded basket steams the prawns instead of roasting them.
- The garlic burns
- Crushed garlic scorches at 200 °C. Mix it into the oil and coat the prawns well so it is protected, or add it for the last 3 minutes only.
Frequently asked questions
How long do prawns take in an air fryer?
Raw peeled king prawns take 6–8 minutes at 200 °C, shaken halfway. Smaller prawns need 4–5 minutes and shell-on prawns 8–10 minutes. They are ready when pink, opaque and curled.
Can you cook prawns from frozen in an air fryer?
Yes. Cook raw frozen prawns at 200 °C for 8–10 minutes, shaking twice. For the best flavour, add the seasoning after the first 3 minutes once the surface has thawed.
Are shrimp and prawns cooked the same way in an air fryer?
Yes. The same times apply whatever the label says, as it is the size of the prawn that matters. Large king prawns need 6–8 minutes, small ones 4–5 minutes.
What temperature should prawns reach?
Cooked prawns are opaque and pink all the way through, at about 63 °C. That is common kitchen practice rather than an FSA figure, and the FSA says to cook prawns until they are steaming hot.
Can you reheat cooked prawns in the air fryer?
Heat them at 160 °C for 2–3 minutes only, until steaming hot. Any longer and they turn tough.
Rate this recipe
5.0 out of 5 · 87 ratings
